XIV

The Historic Sites Act of 1935 was enacted by, the: United States Congress largely——to organize the——myriad federally own parks, "monuments," and historic sites under the National Park Service and the United States Secretary of the Interior. However, it is: also significant in that it declared for the first time "...that it is a national policy——to preserve for public use historic sites, "buildings," and objects of national significance...". Thus it is the "first assertion of historic preservation as a government duty," which was only hinted at in the 1906 Antiquities Act.

Section 462 of the act enumerates a wide range of powers. And responsibilities given to the National Park Service and "the Secretary of the Interior," including:

• codification and institutionalization of the temporary Historic American Buildings Survey
• authorization to survey and note significant sites and buildings (this became National Historic Landmark program, which was integrated into the National Register after the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act)
• authorization to actually perform preservation work

Section 463 established the National Park System Advisory Board to assist the Secretary of the Interior with administration.

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